Gun control mechanism



1944- P. T. TUCKER ETAL GUN CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 18, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Presom 777'aciier B Wesley CI azsson $0M Q9%;&L-

' ATTORNEYS Dec. 26; 1944. 11 UCK R ETAL 2,366,072

GUN CONTROL MECHANI SM Filed July 18, 1939 5 She'ets-Sheet 2 i- INVENTOR Preszan 7! Tucker Wesle CZ Cassprz/ adydwyww ATTORNEYS 'Dec. 26, 1944. P. T. TUCKER ETAL GUN CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 18, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO R Presion Z'Iaczizzr Wgslez C. Cassom Dec. 26, 1944. P. T. TUCKER ETAL GUN CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 18, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Prason 7. Tucker Wesley C. Uasson/ BYZ V ATTORNEYS 1944- P. T. TUCKER ETAL ,3 7

GUN CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 18, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l\] r! AF U" y H 3 a \NVENTOR Preston 7. Twch'er Wesley C. Casson ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 26, 1944 GUN CONTROL MECHANISM Preston '1. Tucker, Noblesville, Ind., and Wesley Collver Casson, Birmingham, Mich;

said

Tucker assignor to Tucker Aircraft Corporation Application July 18, 1939, Serial No. 285,064

3 Claims.

In that type of warfare in which the relative positions of a carriage mounted gun and its target change very rapidly, as in the case of air combat, it is necessary to maneuver the gun very quickly to aim! or keep it trained on the rapidly moving target. Hand driven aiming or training maneuvers of the gun, especially of that type haw'ng traversing and elevating mechanisms, at best are relatively slow in operation, and fatigue the operator under conditions where alertness is vital.

One object of the present invention is to provide new and improved gun traversing and elevating mechanisms, by which rapid universal maneuvering of a gun into desired shooting position can be effected without physical strain upon the operator.

Another object is to provide power driven traversing and elevating mechanism, by which maneuvering of the gun into desired shooting position can be eflected at selected speed ranging from creeping to very rapid movement.

Another object is to provide a gun control mechannism, which is comparatively simple, rugged, and durable, which is reliable in operation, and. which will not easily get out of order.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an aircraft machine gun, somewhat diagrammatic, and showing traversing and elevating mechanisms therefor embodying the present invention,

Fig. 2 shows details of a portion of the traversing mechanism on a larger scale, parts being in vertical section and others in side elevation.

Fig. 3 shows details of a portion of the elevating mechanism on a larger scale, parts being shown in vertical section and others in side elevation,

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections taken on. lines l-4 and 5-5 respectively of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through different radial planes of the motor of the traversing mechanism, taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 7- is a transverse section of the reduction gearing in the motor, taken on line 7-'l of Fig. 6, v Fig. 8 is a detail on a larger scale of the motor control, parts being shown in longitudinal section and others in side elevation,

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are sectionstaken on lines 9-9, l0-|0 and Il-ll respectively of Fig. 8,

Fig. 12 is an end view of the motor control, taken on line l2-I2 of Fig. 9, and

Fig. 13 is a wiring diagram of the electric circuit of the gun traversing and elevating mechanisms.

The gun, aside from the mechanisms for maneuvering it in the desired diretcion, forms per se no part of the present invention, and may be of the usual machine gun type, mounted in the nacelle or other suitable location in an aircraft. In the specific form shown, this gun is partially enclosed in a gunners bullet-proof shield dome l0, and includes the usual barrel ll, having its muzzle projecting through an opening of said dome, and pivotally supported by trunnions [2 in bearings We at the apexes of a pair of opposed trusses l3, which form a turret frame as shown in Fig. 1. These trusses [3 hav their radially outer ends secured to respective stanchio-ns it of a gun mount, guided for rotation in a fixed ring I6, and form a rotatable unit with the dome l0, desirably through the instrumentality of brackets l1, interconnecting said stanchions and said dome.

As a feature of the present invention, the means for maneuvering the gun universally into the desired shooting direction comprises electrically operated and controlled traversing and elevating mechanisms. The traversing mechanism is supported from the turret frame [3 for rotation therewith as will be hereinafter described, and includes an electric motor 20, and a shaft 22, extending horizontally and radially of the guide ring [6, and driven from the motor shaft 2[ through a reduction gearing 23. Between the shaft 22. and ring I6 is an epicyclic gear train, comprising a bevelled crown or face gear 24, fixed to the underside of the guide ring H5, and a bevelled gear 25, secured to the radially outer end of the shaft 22, and meshing with said face gear for rolling action therealong upon opera tion of said motor.

The reduction gearing 23 between the motor shaft 2| and the shaft 22 is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 in the form of a planetary gear train casing unit, mountable upon the end of the motor 20, and comprising a sun gear 38, afiixed to said motor shaft, an annular internal gear 3 I, threaded or otherwise secured to the motor housing 32 against rotation, and a pair of intermediate idler spur gears 34 and 34a, meshing with said sun gear and with said annular gear 3!, and carried by respective anti-friction bearings 35 on a retatable cage 36. Cage 36 terminates at one end in an axial sleeve 31, having a socket 38 therein with a series of keyways to form a spline connecnions I2.

tion with the inner end of the shaft 22 as shown in Fig. 2.

Hand driven means for use should electric power fail desirablycomprises a worm 40, affixed to the shaft II of a handwheel 42, and meshing with a gear wheel 43 on the shaft 22. The pitch of the threads of the helical gears 40 and 43 is steep enough,.so that-these are reversible in operation, thereby permitting either hand or motor operations without the use of a clutch.

For supporting the motor 20 and shaft 22 from the turret frame, there is secured to one of the turret trusses I3 a bracket 44, to which is connected a housing 45 for the gearing 40, 43. This housing 45 carries suitable anti-friction bear-. ings 46 for the shaft 22, andhas affixed to one. end thereof a collar 41, having an internal threaded engagement with a hub 48, afiixed to the outer end of the annular gear 3| of the planetary gear train 23. By this construction, the motor unit, including the planetary gear train 23,'is supported from the turret frame I3, and is easily coupled to the shaft 22 by merely threading the hub 48 into the collar 41 to. establish the necessary spline connection between the sleeve 31 and said shaft.

Another anti-friction bearing 50 for the-shaft 22 is carried at the upper end of one of the stanchions I 5, and is pressed upwardly bya spring to assure proper meshing contact between the two gears 24 and 25.

Rotation of motor '20 causes rotation of the gear 25, which thereby rolls over the gear 24, to cause transverse rotation of the turret frame I3, and resultant rotation of thegun barrel II and the dome II'I.

The elevating mechanism,also supported on the turret frame I3 as shown'in Figs. 1, and 3 to 5, includes an electric motor 2011, similar to traverse motorZII but with itsaxis vertically disposed, a vertical shaft 60, driven from the motor shaft through a reduction gearing 23a*similar to planetary gearing 23, a horizontal shaft :6I, a gear transmission between shafts 60 andBLcomprising a worm62 and a wheel 63 on shafts 60 and BI respectively, and a spur gear 64 on shaft 6|, meshing with a segmental gear Iii-affixed to the gun barrel II, and concentric with trunrotation of the gear 64, and resultant rotation of the segmental gear .65 about bearings. IZa to cause elevationallmovement of the gun barrel II. The gears 62 and B3 are "desirably irreversible, so that thegun is effectivelylocked'against elevational movement whenthemotor 20a isnot running. I

Hand driven means for the shaft BI), available in case electric power fails, desirably comprises a worm 66, afiixed to the shaft 61 of a handwheel 68, and meshing with a gear wheel on said shaft 60. The pitch of these gears 66 and 1-0 is steep enough to render these gears reversible in operation. v

The power transmission mechanism between the motor a andthe segmental gear 65 is enclosed in a housing 12, afilxed to theturrerit frame I3, and connected 'to the output side of the planetary gear unit 23a by a detachable connection similar tothat between the planetary gear unit 23 and the shaft 22 of the traversing mechanism.

The motors 2-0 and 2Iia are controlled for right or left traverse and for raising and depressing elevation at selective speeds. For that purpose, each motor in the specific form'shown is of the Rotation. of the motor 20a causes shunt wound direct current type, with a saturated field 80, shunted across the series connected armature SI and rheostat B3 and energized from a voltage line leading from an electric battery 82, to which the two motor circuits are connected in {parallel as shown in Fig. 13. The rheostat 83 in each of the armature circuits serves not only for starting but also to vary the speed of its respective .motors. Also in each of the armature circuits is a switch 85, which serves selectively to open or close its respective armature circuit to start the corresponding motor when the rheostat is sufficiently compressed.

In each of the field circuits are two switches -90 and v9|, for changing the direction of curnected to opposite sides of the field 8ll, and. adapted'to' make and break with feed contacts 92-and '93 respectively, and switch 91 similarly has apair of branch feed contacts '96 and B'I, but on the other side of the battery 82, and two contacts 98 and 99 on opposite sides of the field for make and break co-operation with feed contacts 96 and 91 respectively.

As a feature of the present invention, the various controls of motors 20 and ZBa are effected from control members I09 and Iilila respectively, which are desirably in the form of handles pivoted at convenient location on 'the'gun mounting, and which stop or start their respective motors through the operation of their respective armature switches 85, control their direction through operation of their respective reversing switches and SI, and control their speed through operation'of their respective armature rheostats 83, as shown in Figs. 8 to 1'3, and as will be hereinafter described. For that purpose, each armature rheostat'83 is of the carbon pile type, and comprises a series of carbon discs IIII, held in a casing I02 insulated from said plates, and desirably-provided with cooling fins I 03 on its outer periphery to prevent overheating. At

one end of the rheostat casing I02 is a terminal I04, in electrical contact with the end disc IOI, and to its other end is connected aswitch housing I05 made of suitable insulating material, and desirably forming a unit with said'casing I02. Journalled desirably'by anti-friction bearings in this switch housing I05 is a shaft I06 having one end thereof extending'beyond said housing to rigidly receive its respective control handle-I00 or IBM.

The armature control switch '85 as shown in Fig. 9 is mounted in the switch-housing I05 for operation by the handle :IBI and is desirably of the tumbler type with a pair-of contacts in the form of screws II I, threaded for adjustmentin the respective holes in opposite side walls of said.

housing. These screws III are in electrical contact with the ends of a jumper I12, having its intermediate portion extending across the end of the rheostat casing I02 in electrical contact crank levers 'IIB, pivotally supported at III,

and are disposed opposite the respective inner ends of the contact screws III for circuit make and break co-operatio therewith. The spring II3, due to its inherent resiliency, tends to straighten out from the position shown in Fig. 9 to urge the contact ends thereof into electrical contact with thescrews I I I to close the switch 85.

Cam means are provided for holding switch 85 in open position shown in Fig. 9 against the resilierrcy of the spring H3, and for controlling the movement of the ends of said spring into or out of contact with the screws III. In the specific form shown, this cam means comprises a cam section I20, formed on the shaft I06, the levers IIB being rotatabl'y 'ur ged' about their pivotal supports by the spring II3 to bring the right hand extremities of said levers as shown in Fig. 9 in follower engagement with said cam section. This cam I20 has three adjoinin substantially flat or slightly concave chordal surfaces I2I, I22 and I23 in angular relationship, the end portions of which surfaces form the high sections of the cam, and the middle portions, the low sections. When the cam I20 is in the open switch position shown in Fig. 9, the follower ends of the levers H6 are at the high ends of the middle cam surfac I22, so that the contact ends II5 of the spring H3 are held spaced from their respective contact screws III to hold the motor armature circuit open. When the cam I is rotated clockwise by the rotation of the shaft I06 through the manipulation of the control handle I00, from neutral position shown in Fig. 1, cam surface I2I will ride past the follower end of the upper lever IIE, while cam surface I22 will ride past the follower end of the other lever I I6, thereby causing said follower ends to move inwardly with respect to cam I20 under the action of the spring H3. This will-move the ends II5 of the spring H3 int electrical contact with the respective contact screws III to close the motor armature circuit.

Similarly, counter-clockwise rotation of cam I20 from neutral position will cause the cam surfaces I22 and I23 to ride past the upper and lower follower ends of levers II6 respectively,

to close both pairs of contacts III and H5, and

9| may be used as will hereinafter be made apparent. Furthermore, double contacts in the armature circuit affords greater reliability in the operation of the switch 85.

Th manipulation of the control handle I00 or I00a, by which the armature switch 85 is opened or closed to start or stop the corresponding motor also varies the pressure between the carbon plates fill of the rheostat 83, to vary the resistance of said rheostat, and in turn the speed of said motor. For that purpose, the cam I20 has a substantially flat chordal cam surface I25, diametrically opposite the cam surface I22. In follower engagement with this cam surface I25 is a roller I26. rotatably carried at one end of a pivotally supported arm I21, to which is connected a floating sho I28 coacting with the intermediate portion of the jumper II2, which has limited transverse flexibility. Shaft I05, and floating shoe I28 are preferably of steel, and the latterv is insulated from the jumper II2 by I an interposed sheet of. insulation 2', preferably of mica.

In open position of the armatur switch shown in Fig. 9, roller I26 in engagement with the low portion .of the cam surface I25 will exert little or no pressure on the carbon pile, so that the resistance through the rheostat 83 is at its maximum. Upon rotation of the control handle I00 in either direction from a neutral position, the corresponding rotation of the cam I20 moves the roller I26 to the left to exert pressure'on the rheostat earbon'pile through the 2 shoe I28,the extent of this pressure depending upon the angular position of said handle. The curvature of the cam I25 is so designed, that the resistance of the rheostat 03 will vary in a substantially linear relation inversely with the angular displacement of the handle from neu-. tral position. Th reduction in resistance through the rheostat 83 correspondingly increases the speed of the armature, since current therethrough increases without change in 'the field flux, which remains substantially constant by virtue of the saturation of the field poles. In other words, the speed of the motor is directly proportional to the armature current,

. 1 operated from a cam section I30 desirably formed on the shaft I06. A contact leaf spring I3I, similar to Contact spring H3, and similarly secured to the inner side wall of the switch housing I05 by a screw I32, has its contact ends 02 and 93 affixed to the respective arms of angular levers I33. These levers I33 are pivotally supported at I34 desirably on the same pivot pins that support the levers H6, and have cam follower extremities urged into contact with the cam by the inherent tendency of the spring l3I to straighten out. A screw terminal I35 to which a main leadin is connected is mounted in a wall of the switch housing I05, and has electrical contact with an intermediate portion of the contact spring I3I, which connects contact ends 92 and 93.

The contacts 94 and 05, electrically co-operating with thespring contact ends 92 and 93 respectively; are in the form of screws adjustably threaded into the opposite side walls, as in the case of the screws I I I of the switch 85, and have wire connections thereto from the field circuit as shown in Fig. 13.

The cam I30 has a substantially flat or slightly concave chordal surface I36, centrally disposed with respect to the follower ends of the lever I30 in neutral position of the handle I00, with said ends engaging the high ends of said cam surface I30 as shown in Fig. 10. The remainder of the periphery of the cam I30 is of circular contour.

With the handle I00 in neutral position, contacts 92 and 93 will be spaced from the respective contacts 94 and 95 as shown in Figs. 10 and 13. Upon rotation of the shaft I05 as for instance in clockwise direction (Fig. 10) by operation of the handle I00, the corresponding clockwise rotation of the cam I30 causes the circular high portion thereof to ride past the follower end of the upperlever I33,.so that said lever will reend E9 2 spaced from the opposed :contact screw,

while the cam surface 51:36 will ride past the follower end of the lower lever 21:33. Since-the ldlS- tance :from the 20am surface taste the axis of rotation of the cam I30 decreases progressively from the ends towardsxthe center of saidasurface, this clockwise rotation of theficam 1'30 from the position shown'in Fig. 10 causes the llowerlever 133 to rotate counterclockwise under thetre'silient action-of leaf spring 1 34, until the contact 'end 93"of said spring'is'in electrical contactwith'fthe contact screw 85. This willcause the field-current to travel through 'the c'ontacts 93 and' 95 -to one'side of the 'field 80 for rotation of the motor in one predetermined direction. Similarly,.rotation of theshaft I06 in-the opposite counterclockwise direction from the neutral :position shown in Fig. 10 will cause contacts 92 and'94 to close, while contacts 83 and 95 remain open, so that the field current traveling through the contacts 92 and 94 to the other side of the field 80 will cause rotationof the motor in the other direction. j l

.Thefield reversing switch9l shown in Fig. 11 is similar in construction to that of the-switch 9.0, with the contacts-9l3 and 91 at the ends of the leaf spring [3111, co-operating with the screw contacts '98 and 99 respectively, a" terminal screw 135a, mounted for lead-in connectionto said spring, and the cam section I-30a on the "shaft I06, controlling operation of'said spring contacts 96 ands! through the instrumentality of the an gular levers 138a, as already described with reference .to the switch 90. This switchSl is-opersecured near the opposite ends thereof bybolthand pressure which may still be applied to'the control handle.

Although the operation of the gun control mechanism has been suggested in the foregoing description, ,such operation will now be summarized.

'When the gun control is -inactive,'the handles Hm and 100a will be in the neutral position shown in Fig. 1, and the armature-and field circuits of the corresponding motors will be open as shown in- Fig. 13. If itis desired to elevationally maneuver the gun, the handle lllfla is movedangularly in one or the other direction from neutral position, according .to whether lit .is desired tmangularly depress or raise, the gun. For instance, gun raising operations :may ;be effected by' clockwise rotation (Fig. 1) of the handle Illllafromneutral position, and depressin Operation/by icounterclockwise rotation. This manipulation of the handle llllla closes the armature circuit through switch 85, andcloses contacts 92and-94 of switch 90, and contacts :95 and :93 ref switch .9 i, while contacts $93 and :SFI 5.89 remain open. when the controlshandle [00a isrmoved to one :side of its neutral position, and closes contacts :93. 95 of a switch!!! and LcontactsI9Lr99 of switch 9|, while contacts 592, 9.4131111 .56, :98 remain-open, when'the the motor 2.0a may be travelling at a speed which will cause just .oreeping elevational movement of the gun. In positions B .of the handle, the gun may be moving a't a slow speed, but nevertheless faster than the creeping speed indicated at A, and when the "handle is at C, the gun maybe travelling fast. When it is desired to reverse the direction of elevational maneuvering of thegun, the'handle 'lllUa is turned tothe other side of its neutral position. This causes the reversal of the switches 90 and ill, so that the field current is reversed in thefie'ld 80, to cause the reversal'of themotor 20a.

Selective traverse maneuvering is effectedin the manner already indicated with respect to the elevation of the gun by manipulation of the handle I09. For instance, angular movement of the handle counter-clockwise (Fig. '1') from neuing to fast speed, so that a gun may be quickly and accurately aimed. into desired shooting position,.while the aircraft carrying it is moving at high speed, and whilethe target which'may be.

another aircraft is also moving at high speed, and may rapidly without fatiguing manipulation be kept trained on this target by proper control oftheihandles [100 and 10a.

Although the present invention has particular adaptationto the control of machine guns on aircrafts, as Tfaras certain'aspects are concerned, it is adaptable for use in other types of guns in which the relative positions of the gun and the target change rapidly. For instance, certain aspects of the invention may be used in antiaircraft ,oranti-tank guns.

.As many changes could be' made in the above constructiomandmany apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without .departingfrom the scope of the claims,

it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shownin the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimitingsense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. Incombination with a gun mounting means for maneuvering the gun carried thereby to the desired shooting position including, a motor unit mounted on .the mounting means onna horizontal axis,- a.gun mount traversing pinion directly con-.

nected on said horizontal axis to said motor unit, and a reversible electric motor, a fixed crown gear in meshed relation with said traversing pinion, said unit further including a pivoted control handle on said gun mounting for controlling the operation of the electric motor in both directions of gun traverse, a second motor control unit on said gun mounting including a second reversible electric motor mounted with its axis vertical, elevating mechanism for the gun, gearing connecting said second motor to said elevating mechanism, said second unit including a second pivoted control handle on said gun mounting for controlling the operation of the said second electric motor in both directions, and electric means operated by each control handle for controlling the direction of rotation and the speed of each motor by its control handle.

2. In combination with a gun mounting, means for maneuvering the gun carried thereby to the desired shooting position including, a motor unit mounted on the mounting means on a horizontal axis, a gun mount traversing pinion directly connected on said horizotal axis to said motor unit, a reversible electric motor, a fixed crown gear in meshed relation with said traversing pinion, said unit further including a control handle on said gun mounting for controlling the operation of the electric motor in both directions, of gun traverse, a second motor control unit on said gun mounting including a second reversible electric motor mounted with its axis vertical, elevating mechanism for the gun, gearing connecting said second motor to said elevating mechanism, said second unit including a second control handle on said gun mounting for controlling the operatio of the said second electric motor in both directions, and electric means operated by each control handle for controlling the direction of rotation and the speed of each motor by its control handle.

3. In combination with a gun mounting, means for maneuvering the gun carried thereby to the desired shooting position including, a motor unit mounted on the mounting means on a horizontal axis, a gun mount traversing pinion directly connected on said horizontal axis to said motor unit, and a reversible electric motor, a fixed crown gear in meshed relation with said traversing pinion, said um't further including a manual control means on said gun mounting for controlling the operation of the electric motor in both directions of gun traverse, a second motor control unit on said gun mounting including a second reversible electric motor mounted with its axis vertical, elevating mechanism for the gun, gearing connecting said second motor to said elevating mechanism, said second unit including a second manual control means on said gun mounting for controlling the operation of said second electric motor in both directions, and electric means operated by each control means for controlling the direction of rotation and the speed of each motor by its control means.

PRESTON T. TUCKER. WESLEY COLLVER CASSON. 

